a few years ago i bought a used car for the engine blew within a month i got a quote for to put a brand new engine in instead i went out and bought a new bmw my logic was this dnjcinrnrlsondd what im saying is there wasnt any while i understand your desire to ditch the car that is a trouble maker the investment is get a second or ninth opinion on that engine price btw thats way ridiculously over quoted as opposed to if your goal is to remain liquid i recommend sucking it up and fixing the vw even if the vw blows a tranny next youre still saving money because you already own it